Rebate deals: Good or bad?

(Credit: OpticsPlanet.com)

Last month's post about refurbished gear generated lots of great feedback, so today I'd like to open the floor to an even more controversial topic: rebates.

I know from reading various post comments that many of you have strong feelings about this. A few of you have even accused me of "promoting scams," which I suppose is understandable if you've been burned by a rebate deal in the past. (For the record, I'm not affiliated in any way with any company, so the only thing I'm promoting is my fondness for cheap stuff.)

But what's the overall consensus? Are rebate deals worth the time, effort, and potential headaches? What kind of luck have you had with them? Personally, I've taken advantage of dozens of rebates over the years, and I don't recall a single problem getting my check in the mail. Once or twice I made a mistake on a form, but I always received notification of that mistake and a chance to correct it.

Anyway, hit the comments page and share your rebate thoughts. If it turns out you really, really hate them, I'll do my best to find more deals that have out-the-door pricing, no rebates required.

[CoatesT25]

While the dedicated have no problem sending out for a $5 mail-in rebate and getting their check in 4-6 weeks, I am more of an instant gratification person and prefer the instant, out-the-door, deals.

[peteyboy84]

I had probably the greatest experience you will ever hear with rebates. 2 years ago I went to my local Staples looking for a scanner. As I was browsing, a sales assistant showed me the Epson Perfection 2480 Limited Edition which included the detachable auto lid that would automatically scan, crop, save, and stack multiple photos with the touch of one button thanks to its belt driven design.<br /><br />Well, the sales guy showed me that they had four of them left selling for $300 a piece and that they were trying to move them out. They were offering a Staples rebate and an Epson rebate. I walked out of the store with three out of the four scanners.<br /><br />I bought three of them for a grand total of $900 plus tax in cash. BUT... the total of the rebates came to $870. SO....after the rebates I payed a total of $30 for THREE $300 scanners. I used one for myself, gave one as a gift, and put one up for sale. I recently saw one on Amazon going for over $400!<br /><br />Try and top that deal!!!

[rickbroida]

I can come close: I recently bought a new smartphone for $99 after a $100 rebate. But the rebate check was for $300! Who am I to argue...

[floabn]

I usually consider a "good deal", one that does not require the use of a rebate. Although 90% of the time, I don't have any issues with my rebates being honored and the checks being sent, there is the other 10% that really ticks me off. In spite of all my best efforts to document the submissions, it seems that I occasionally receive messages from companies claiming that my submission cannot be honored due to something that was incomplete and missing. It's impossible for me to reproduce the original UPC (they claim is missing) that I sent in the same envelope that contained the address they used to send me the message. Therefore, as a general rule of thumb, if the deal isn't good enough without the rebate submission, it's hard to call it a "good deal".

[Stephen Russell]

It is an insult to me that they trust my money but I can't trust them to complete the deal. I hate to have to stop by a copier to cover my butt for each rebate I mail in. <br /><br />I have had a few companies screw with me before I did the photocopy everything rule. <br /><br />I try to avoid the BS and not purchase the deal if it is only through rebates. their loss for treating me like a crook.

[artfulch]

I have now waited NINE weeks for a rebate from Epson on my R1900 printer. There has been no explanation for the cause of the delay. As far as I know I mailed in everything as requested. It was supposed to take 6 weeks or less. What can I DO to get my money? I did NOT agree to loan them $200 at 0% them for an unlimited period of time!!!!

[shawnAllenLott]

Rebates are often a scam. Companies offer them, but then hope that consumers forget to mail them in, or they hope that people forget that they did mail them in (that's why they take 6-8 weeks or whatever to process). Usually one must send the original proof-of-purchase or another one of a kind item in order to get the rebate, and less reputable companies might say that they never received it. I will occasionally bother with the whole rebate ordeal, but I often regret having done so.<br /><br />In regards to the comment made by the person who said that they got rebates on three scanners, usually rebates are limited to only one per household, so that whole story seems kind of suspicious to me, like something that would be posted by someone who works for a company that advocates rebates. But maybe that's just my anti-rebate cynicism talking.

[peteyboy84]

Actually I don't work for any sort of rebate company. I recently graduated with a Graphic Design degree. I came across the rebate when shopping for a scanner I needed for school. I was just in the right place at the right time I guess. They never gave me any kind of crap about the one per household thing. I'm not embellishing this story. Its people like you who end up paying full price for products. You could benefit from a blog like this since you obviously aren't a very savvy shopper.

[Jstellarsb]

I hate rebates. I've only received 1 or 2 checks in over 10 attempts. I read the fine print and follow the precise instructions but I still don't get anything back. Obviously they don't want to give most consumers the money back otherwise they would just offer the project with no strings attached.<br /><br />Some companies offer "Instant Rebates" and those I consider good deals. <br /><br />However if I see a "deal" and it en tales rebates I just move on.

[atticusfata]

I've stopped looking at deals that has the word rebate in it unless it has instant in front of it. I have also had my share of failure with them going wrong and I consider them a big hassle and is just not worth it at least for me. The long wait doesn't help either. So basically when I see a deal with a rebate will instantaneously turn me away without any second thoughts.

[madmardigan5]

Rebates are awful and I avoid them at all costs. They are a huge hassle for the consumer and a cheap trick for a company to lure you into a purchase you wouldn't ordinarily make. I hate them and never use them. I've had several instances where I followed the instructions perfectly and months later still hadn't received anything. <br /><br />Rick, anything that you offer on this website that has a rebate involved I ignore unless the original price of the item is also a good purchase, just so you know. That goes for your website as well as all other "deal" websites. I'm sure I'm not alone on this.

[rickbroida]

I'm curious to know if anyone has come close to accidentally throwing away a rebate check because they thought it looked like junk mail. This has happened to me twice; I'd forgotten about the rebate (yeah, I know, that's what *they* want) and thought it was just some promotional item. Glad I looked twice!

[T-Bomber]

I once got 100 CD-Rs and 100 jewel cases, free after rebate. A $60 investment up front, but after I got those checks, it sure felt like they were free. Also, I love getting rebate checks that I forgot I was owed. That's like free money (sort of). As for throwing away rebate checks, I can't remember ever having done that, but I suppose it's possible. The good news is, I wasn't looking for them, so I never really missed them.

[ftlaudman]

Mail-in Rebates are the spawn of Satan...<br /><br />There, I said it.<br /><br />('Instant rebates' are great.)<br /><br />Keep up the good work!

[steveangus]

I already commented on this subject (in response to an earlier blog), so I'll simply say: if you find a deal that includes a rebate, let those of us who choose to use them know about it. <br /><br />Those who find it too cumbersome can hold out for the best out-the-door deal that comes along.<br /><br />And thanks, for the great deals you've posted in the past.

[pjcamp]

Rebates are at best a hassle. Companies use them to advertise an artificially low price, get people in the door, and then trust that many of them will never get around to filing for the rebate. My rule is that I will buy something with a rebate if it is something I was going to buy anyway but I will never let a rebate entice me to buy anything. If you want to entice me, cut the sales price. Don't make me futz around with receipts and UPC codes and stamps and making bank deposits.

[caliborn65]

There haven't been too many times I've purchased products that have a rebate simply because the item was not what I wanted. The most recent was buying a USR Wireless router(5461) and wireless adapter(5417) both came with a $20 rebate. I received my $40 check about a month later. Not bad

[SW_A]

There is no good reason for rebates, except to add the cost and hassles of dealing with fulfillment centers both for the manufacturer/marketer and the consumer. In this computerized era, prices can be readily adjusted down or up, as in traditional sale prices.<br /><br />So, if a manufacturer, marketer or retailer wants to lower a price to move products, all they have to do is put the products ON SALE ? or reduce the price permanently.<br /><br />This back-to-the-future approach brings with it the surefire benefit of avoiding incredible amounts of ill will when rebate seekers get burned, as too many inevitably do.

[Nalts]

Funny you should mention this. I've been scanning past most of your posts that offer rebates- especially for very inexpensive products. Two reasons. First, I'm rarely organized enough to follow up. Second, I've twice been burned on a camera and a PC purchase where $300 rebates were refused, and I lacked the will to fight. So now I prefer a 10 dollar savings now instead of a 100 dollar "promise" of a rebate because I figure there's a 10 percent chance I'll ever get it.

[rhynole]

Rebates Rock! Sure they are somewhata hassle, but to me, they are not enough of a hassle to not take advantage of. I have a scanner and can scan and save copies of all the paperwork I send them. Instead of being a victim when(very infrequently) I get a letter saying something was missing or not valid, I have everything I need to disprove that. In fact, I've never had to use any of it. Just the fact that I have it and offer to provide them with my proof, they usually just approve me on the spot. So yes, they don't want you to cash in. Yes they want you to forget. Yes they want to make it more difficult for you. But as long as you follow the instructions on the rebate form and cover your but with copies, it does not matter what they want. Some people think this is too much of a hassle, but I relly don't see a big problem with makeing some copies and putting an expected date on my calendar of when I should hve my $$$$.

[Ray180]

Please continue to post all good deals you find, even if they involve rebates. I don't like to deal with rebates, but I realize they allow products to be offered at deeper discounts because many of them won't be redeemed.

[matthellfish]

Best Data, they handle the rebates for Diamond video cards. <br />Let's see it is March and I've been waiting for a rebate since August. <br />Saved copies of UPC and mailed in on time. <br />In January I received a single email stating they were still processing rebates from August (this wasn't a curteousy either, I had to inquire) <br /> <br />Buyer beware on all Diamond products and anything made by their rebate handler, Best Data. <br /> <br />OCZ, awesome, received all my rebates from them on power supply and RAM. <br /> <br />Mail in rebates are like gambling, there is nothing guaranteed.

[verami123]

I got BURNED!. Corel sent me a $20 rebate check ... and it bounced! So my bank took out the $20, then charged me $10 on top of that. Trying to work things out through Corel's customer service line - 800-772-6735. Hope it doesn't happen to anyone else.

[mike wrubel]

I quit doing rebates a while back. I've had 2 situations where every possible piece of information was sent in-the receipt, the rebate form, the codes from the box etc. -everything except the kitchen sink and my first born. A printed form response was received back in both cases that said that there was insufficient information suoolied. I'm an Aerospace Engineer and "hopefully" capable of reading and following simple instructions. I wrote them back and asked what was missing and did not receive a response. One was a for a case of oil but I can't remember what the other one was for. More recently I puirchased a nearly $3K MacPro Notebook for my son that had a rebate for a "free" ($89.) carrying case. This was for a Christmas gift for my son so I bought it 5 weeks before Christmas. The receipt was not included with the shipment so I requested it and applied for the rebate at Chrstmas right after my son checked it out. I was then told that it had to be submitted within 30 days of the original purchase date and didn't even have the receipt in 30 days. I don't think this was in any way a concidence. There is a reason that 60% of the rebates never get used,. I think I'd rather sit on a 20 inch bar chain saw rather than ever apply for another rebate.